Back pain with tissue expander

Originally posted by CheriP.

I hope somebody out there can help me. I was dx'd with early breast ca and had mastectomy with placement of a tissue expander for reconstruction. So far 400cc in the tissue expander, but my back is killing me! I feel like I have a tumor on my chest and it's in a awkward position and I think that's what's causing my back pain (lumbar region). Motrin doesn't seem to help. I have Vicodan for the post-op pain but my plastic surgeon doesn't seem to think I need it anymore, plus I don't want to get hooked. I also can't seem to find any information about this type of complaint. Is it so unusual to have back discomfort with the tissue expander? I don't think it can be mets since it's only been since the surgery and my nodes were neg. Any thoughts out there? Thanks:)

First I just want to say I'm for all you're going through Cheri. I don't believe metastasis is the problem at this juncture. With all that tissue that you've had removed lymph nodes...your left with a great deal of raw tissue. Then they went and filled up a big water balloon to the size of two cans of soda. What you're left with is the tissue expander with a great deal of pressure pushing both ways on all of that raw tissue. I wouldn't worry to much about getting hooked on narcs over this, if that's the only thing that takes the pain away then demand them from your surgeon! I think a reasonable analogy might be something like...have you ever had gas in your stomach so bad that you're back hurt and when you belched your back felt better. I think the gas is that tissue expander. Maybe your surgeon just needs to take some of that 400cc out for a while. More than anything I want to ease your mind about the mets. Like you said it's too early to worry much about. That's got to be scary to have to think about. Take care Cheri!